Cuff link



March 31, 1953 ALBRECHT 2,632,931

CUFF LINK Filed Dec. '7, 1949 BY- IgEENTgRj M /%J-- AT'I'OR N EY v ment; and

Patented Mar. 31, 1953 CUFF LINK Karl Albrecht, Maplewood, .N. J., assignor to Forstner Chain Corporatioma corporation of New Jersey Application December 7, 1949, Serial No. 131,607

2 Claims. (01. 24 .9'1') t t The present invention relates to the jewelry art, and has particular reference to a novel construction for a cuff link.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for a cuff link having a fixed ornamental head and a movable retainer head.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement for selectively releasably holding the movable retainer head in different positions.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a cuff link embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the center post thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the movable retainer head;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one cam ele- Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one cam element spring plate.

It has been found link which utilizes a snap for retaining a movable head in selected position relative to a fixed center post, in order to obtain a rigid holding for a long, effective life. To this end, it is preferred to mount the movable parts of the snap cam and groove device within the movable head, whereby the center post may be made of rigid material.

Referring to the drawings, the cuff link includes a center post I! in the form of a U, with sides l2, l3 and a base l4; an ornamental head [5 is secured to or in any other suitable manner, and a movable head [6 is pivotally mounted to swing between the post sides I2, I3, as hereinafter explained. The inner'surface ll of each side is provided with a transverse groove l8 and a crossing longitudinal central groove l9, and each side has a pivot pin passage therethrough as illustrated in Fig. 2, at the point of crossing of the grooves l8 and IS.

The movable head I6 is tubular and generally square, and includes a central tube 2 I. preferably desirable to provide a cuif cam and groove device the base 14, by soldering V square, and having longitudinal slots 22, 23 on opposite sides thereof. Positioned within the tube 2i are two arcuate spring plates 24, see

is positioned on the outer surface of each spring plate and includes a base 28 shaped to conform to the spring plate contour and a divided cam 29 in the form of a longitudinal upstanding aligned arcuate ribs 30, 3|, the base having an opening 32 between the ribs, whereby the pivot pin 26 passes through the openings 32 and the passages 20 of the central post arms and is headed over, see Fig. 3, to lock the parts together. The cam ribs 30, 3| are aligned with and extend through the slots It, as shown in Fig. 4, and the ends of the tube 2| are closed by ornaments 33, 34, of any desired type.

When the parts are assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and the movable head is turned to be in alignment with the center post sides, the cam ribs 30, 3| move and snap seat into the longitudinal grooves 19; when the movable head is turned at right angles to the center post, the cam elements move against the resilience of the spring plates and snap seat into the transverse grooves 18.

If desired, one cam element may be fixed in place, but it is preferred to have both cam elements move, as the resulting releasable lock is strong.

Although I have described a specific constructional embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts may be made to suit the requirements for different cuff link designs, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a cufi link, a U-shaped center post having'spaced sides and a base, an ornamental head secured to said post base, the inner surface of each side having a transverse groove and a cross ing longitudinal groove, each side having a pivot pin passage at the point of crossing of the grooves, a pivot pin seated in said passages, a hollow movable head pivotally mounted on said pivot pin, the sides of said head contiguous the inner surfaces of the post sides having narrow slots, cam elements in said head having cam ribs extending through said slots, and arcuate spring plates in said head in opposed relation with their ends contacting and urging said cam elements outwardly to selectively seatin the side grooves as the head is turned, said cam elements and spring plates having openings for passage of the pivot pin therethrough.

2. In a cufi link, a U-shaped center post having spaced sides and a base, an ornamental head secured Lto said ,gpost base, the "inner :sur'fa'ce mof each sidahaving-a transverse groove and-acrossing longitudinal groove, each side having a pivot pin passage at the point of crossing of the grooves, a pivot pin seated in said passages, :a hollow movable head pivotally mounted on said pivot pin, the sides of said lh'ead :c'ontiguous ithe inner surfaces of the post 'sides 'having narrow 15 slots, cam elements in said head having arcuate rear surfaces and projectingacamu'ibs extending through said slots, and arcuate spring plates in REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file \of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,396,668 .iAnderson Mar. 19, 1946 2,501,618 "Rowan Mar. 21, 1950 

